Electrical switch and cut-out.



C. M. DOEMAN, R. A. SMITH & H. G. BAGGS. ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND CUT-OUT.APPLICATION FILED MAE.28,1905.

1, s SHEETSSHEET1 FIG. 6.

WITNESSES. F/Q/D ENVENTORS I d 3. gay/4 A v y 1 PATBNTED APR. 24, 1906.

sf-To, 818-814.

C. M. DORMAN, H. A. SMITH 51 H. G.

BLEOE'RIUAL SWITCH AND GUT-GUT. APILIGATEOE? FILED MAELZS, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

UNITED sT TEs PATENT or FIOE.

CHARLES MARK DORMAN, REGINALD A. SMITH, AND HERBERT e. BAGGS,

. Q or SALFORD, ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND QUIT-OUT.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed March 28,1905. Serial No. 252.589.

To all whom 727'; may concern.-

Be it known that we, OHARLEs MARK Don- MAN, REGINALD ARTHUR SMITH, andHER- BERT GEORGE BAGGS, British subjects, and

residents of Salford, in the county of Lancaster,'En land, have inventedcertain new and useful In roveinents in Electrical-Switches and Cututs,of which the following is a specification.

:1 The invention relates to' automatic elec'-' trical switchesorcut-outs, and is designed to provide means whereby thecontact-surfaces are firmly pressed together and locked when the switchis in the full on? or working po-'.

sition, but which shall allow the parts to relax and move with freedomwhen the switch is moving into position to make or unmake contact, andalso in means connected therewith for the interlocking of the primaryswitch with a secondary switch, so that the be opened untilthe primaryswitch is open. The invention consists, essentiall in so constructingthe switch as to-trans ate the pressure or. force of the spring orsprings which actuate the movable contact-pieces to draw them clear offixed contact-blocks when the former are released, that when the switchis fully closed and locked such pressure will by a system or series oflevers grip or force the movable contact-pieces tightly against thefixed contact-blocks to insure a good electrical connection between thetwo, and also the combination therewith of a loose handle and a-secondpair of switch-blades and contact-blocks operated by this loose handle,which is also provided with a trigger or pivoted catch which engageswhen the second switch is closed with a projection or detent fixed tothe base and which can only be disengaged from this detent by openingtheprimary switch.

The invention will be fully described with reference to theaccompanying-drawings, in which the complete switch or cut-out is shownin order to fully illustrate the invention as applied thereto.

Figure 1, front elevation; Fig. 2, side elevation; Fig.3, transversesection; Fig. 4, front elevation of the gripping-lever detached fromtheswitch; Fig. 5, plan of grippingle-,

ver. Figs. 6 to 10 are sectional plans showthe arm B and resting onthe'lugs G, projectmove to and from the arm B, the spring f drawlng ittoward the arm, and the torsionspringlfl, one end of which is attachedto theing from the arm, the brush being free to' switch-arm B and theother to the fixed base of the switch to cause the switch-arm whenreleased to rise out of contact with the contact-block A.

The switch-arm B is raised by the torsion spring H and by the spring L,which resses forward the plunger L against the un er side of. theswitch-arm, and it is to translate the pressure of these springs andutilize such pressure to hold the brush E tightly pressed against thecontact-blocks A and A that the present invention is in part designed.In carrying out the invention on the switch-arm B, preferably to thelugs G thereon, a lever K is pivoted, the end 7c of which engages theside of the brush E, carried by the switcharm. It will be seen bydrawing back the end 7c of the lever K the end 7c forces the brushE'inward toward the arm B. On the base A of the switch a latch or.spring-catch id is ivoted which catches or engages the end 0 switch-armB in working position, as shown in the drawings. When, therefore, theswitch B is in this position, the springs H and L are acting to force itaway from the base A, but being held by the catch M, engaging the leverK,'the force is translated through the lever against the brush Eto'cause it to grip the the lever K and retains or holds the K and onecatch M. This is the same ar rangement as that shown on the completecutfro'rn left to right. The lever K takes the form of a bell-crank andis pivoted to the end m out, Figs. 1 to 5; but the position of the partsis shown reversed from right to left and .7 of the lug G on theswitch-arm B. The acscribed, the pressure of the spring L, actingbetween the base of the switch and the arm arm or parts connectedthereto.

of the switch.

the contacts gradually increasing until {the E E are carried by theswitch-arm B. The

pivoted on the plunger L, which is actuated tion of the gear is similarto that last dethrough the switch-arm B and bell-crank lever K, tendingto shorten the distance be tween the arm B and the brush E so long asthe lever engages with the latch M.

Referring to Fig. 7, an arrangement is shown of the gripping device verysimilar to that shown in Fig. 6 but in this the compression-spring Lacts between the base of the switch and the bell-crank lever K insteadof.

B of the switch. The action is the same as previously described; but theressiire on-the contact-block A A is not qui e so intense.

Referring to Fig. 8, an arrangementis shown of the gripping device whichvaries somewhat from thosepreviously described. The latch or catch Mengages with the switc h. arm B and notwith the lever. hen theswitch-arm is pushed home, the spring L presses'on the hooked lever Kand forces it inward against the brush E, drawing the brush and arm Btogether, the pressure on latch engages with the switch-arm. When thelatch is withdrawn, the sprin L forces the switch-arm and brush back 0the contact-blocks; but the pressure on the blocks is not fully relieveduntil the brush and arm have traveled some appreciable distance over theblocks.

Referring to Fig. 9, an arrangement is, shown of the gripping devicewith two levers K K, adapted to be applied when two brushes levers K andK are pivoted'to the switcharm B. The compression-spring L acts betweenthe arm B and the base A, to which the switch isattached. Two latches orcatches M M- are hinged on the base of the switch and which when. turnedon their hinges are returned to the position shown by springs.

In all the gripping arrangemen s previously described the spring L maybeattached either to the base of the switch or to the moving is mostconveniently arranged in a casing L fitted with a plunger L, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, the casing either being sunk in the switch-base orattached to the moving parts 'Referring to Fig. 10, an arran ement ofgripping device is shown-very similar to that shown in Fig. 9, exceptthat the levers K K instead of being pivoted on the arm-B are byifthespring L. In this arrangement the spring L must necessarily be attachedto the switch-base; The action of this arrangement is similar to theaction of the arrangement shownin .ig'. 9, except that when the switch-.arm and rushes have been pushed by the Thespring eiaeie spring L clearof the fixed contacts the levers are left attached to the base of theswitch instead of being carried right away on the switch-arm. In thisarrangement the brushes E E are kicked in the on position by frictiononly.

The switch-arm B and the contact blades or brushes E are moved-into theon or closed position against the pressure of the springs H and L by thehandle-lever O and the insulated handle 0, which is preferably pivotedon the spindle C. The handlelever O is provided with switchcontact-blades Q Qpvhich can engage in electrical contact with thecontact-blocks or jaws P P. The seconda switch-blades Q Q andcontact-blocks or jaws P P are electrically in series with the primaryswitch-brush E and contact-blocks A A.

Contact is made between the blocks P P when the hand-lever O is in itslowest position. When the hand-lever is raised for the purpose ofclosing the primary switch, the circuit is broken between the blocks Pand P.

On the hand-lever O a latch or catch R is hinged which when turned onits hinge is always returned by a small spring to the position shownlWhen the hand-lever is turned to its lowest positionj the latchR engageswith a fixed peg S and locks the secondary switch in the closed or onposition. When J1 the switch-arm B is released from the catch M and isthrown into the off position by the springs L'and H, it depresses thelatch R secondary switch. The result of the combination is that thesecondary switch must be closed after the primary switch and can onlyland holds it clear of the peg S, unlocking the be opened when theprimary switch is already open. The principal object of the secondaryswitch is to insure in the case of automatically-released switches thatthe handlever and the hand of the operator shall not be in such aposition as to interfere with the free automatic working of the primaryswitch at the moment when the electrical circuit is completely closed.

The latch or latches M M may be operated by hand or by any gear ingeneral use for such purposes, or by springs or weights released byelectromagnets or solenoids. The illustrations, Figs. 1 and 5, sho w anelectromagnetic releasing mechanism which operates the latch M by meansof the levers T and U.

The whole apparatus described constitutes an automatic electricalcut-out. i

' The action of the gripping-gear is as follows: When the switch isopen, the switcharm B, with the contact-brushes E and levers K Kattached, is farther from the base A of the switch than shown in thedrawings "and is all clear of the contact-blocks A. A

When the switch-arm is pushed home, the brushes E rub lightly over thesurfaces of the contact-blocks A A the spring L is compressed, and theends of the levers K or K engage with the latches M or M.

If the switch-arm is now left free, its motion is reversed by thepressure of the spring L, but it is quickly brought to rest by thelatches M M, which hold the straight ends is of the le- .vers K orK andcause the curved ends 10 to close on the brushes E like a pair ofpincers and grip them hard down on the contactblocks A and A If thelatches M or M are now pulled outward and the levers K released, thepressure on the brushes will be instantly relieved, and the arm B,brushes'E, and lever K will be by the springs L and H.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an electric switch or .cut -out, the combination with the base Acontact-blocks A A switch-arm B, brush E and springs for raising theswitch-arm, of means for translating the force and pressure of thesprings to.

cause the brush E to press tightly against and grip the contact-blockswhen the switcharm is in the on or working position substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric switch orcut-out, the combination with the base Acontact-blocks A A switch-arm B brush E, and springs. for raising theswitch-arm, of a lever pivoted to the switch-arm B one end of whichpresses against the brush, and a latch ivoted to the base A to engagethe lever su stantially as described.

3. In an electric switch or cutout, the combination with the base Acontact-blocks A A switch-arm B brush E, and springs for.

raising the switch-arm, of a lever pivoted to the switch-arm one end ofwhich presses against the brush E, a latch ivoted to the base A toengage the lever, an means for releasing the pivoted latch substantiallyas de-' base A to engage the lever K, a lever T pivoted to theswitch-arm to release the latch M,

pushed clear of the contact-blocks and an electrically-operated lever Tby which the lever U is moved substantially as described.

5. In an electric s vitch or cutout, the combination with the ase A,contact-blocks A A switch-arm B, brush E, springs for raising theswitch-arm, and a lever K pivoted to the switch-arm, one end of whichlever presses agalinst the brush E and the other end of w 'ch engageswith a latch M pivoted to the base A, with which the end of the lever Kengages, a handle 0 with contact-blades Q and secondary contact-blocks PP with which the contact-blades Q enga e after the switcharm B and brushE have een engaged with the primary contact-blocks A A substanstantiallyas and for the purpose described.

6. In an electric switch or cut out, the combination with the base Acontact-blocks A A switch-arm B, brush E, springs for raising theswitch-arm, a lever K pivoted to the switch-arm one end of which leverpresses against the brush E, and a latch M pivoted to the base A withwhich the other end of the lever K engages, of a handle 0 with switchcontact-blades Q a latch R pivoted on the handle 0 and engaging at oneend with a projection S attached to the base A, and actuatated. at theother end by the switch-arm B and the projection S substantially as andfor the purpose described.

7. In an electric switch or cutout, the

combination with the base A contact-blocks A A switch-arm B brush E,springs for rais.

ing the switch-arm and a handle 0, of a lever K pivoted to theswitch-arm one end of which presses a ainst the brush E, a'latch Mpivoted to t e base A to engage the lever K, means for releasing thelatch M, and lever B pivoted to the handle 0 and a pin S to secure thelever in position substantially as described.

In witness whereof We have hereunto signed our names in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MARK DORMAN. REG. A. SMITH. HERBERT e; BAGGS.

Witnesses J. OWDEN OBnrniv, B. TATHAM WOODHEAD.

